Races for legislative seats lack the thrill of top tickets

Hawaii’s 2014 election has drawn refreshing competition at the top of the ballot, with most action set in motion by the death of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

Down the ballot in legislative races, however, are reminders of how far our state must come to restore our once-vibrant democracy.

It’s the first election since 1970 that we’ve had such hotly contested races for governor and U.S. senator in the same year. For good measure, throw in an unexpected fight for lieutenant governor and a battle royal in the 1st Congressional District.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie hoped to cruise to re-election on the strength of the economic recovery during his first term and his rich campaign bankroll.

But his haughty manner and issue flip-flops have antagonized enough voters that he could become the first incumbent governor sent packing since the early days of statehood.

Little-known state Sen. David Ige has mounted a robust challenge in the Democratic primary and the survivor will be tested in the general election by former Mayor Mufi Hannemann, running as an independent, and Republican James "Duke" Aiona, who lost to Abercrombie in 2010 but could surprise in a three-way race.

State Sen. Clayton Hee made lieutenant governor interesting on the Democratic side with a surprise run against incumbent Shan Tsutsui, who got the job when Brian Schatz was appointed by Abercrombie to replace Inouye.

Schatz faces a heated challenge from Inouye’s anointed successor, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Eleven Democrats, including three state legislators, three City Council members and former Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, are battling for Hanabusa’s U.S. House seat.

The excitement mostly ends, however, when we get to races for the state Legislature, where eight House members and senators will be returned to office unopposed and many others face little-known challengers.

After two years of infighting between moderates and conservatives in the local GOP, neither side moved past blowing hot air to field a slate of credible candidates for the Legislature.

Republicans have no candidates in 20 of the 76 House and Senate districts. With many of the GOP candidates running to beat the dead horse of same-sex marriage, the party will be lucky to keep the measly eight legislative seats it holds.

A tellingsign of our fading democracy at the legislative level is state Rep. Romy Cachola, who in 2012 was accused of winning his Kalihi seat by "helping" elderly voters with their mail-in ballots; fellow lawmakers passed a bill unofficially named after him barring the practice.

This year he’s accused of misusing campaign funds to buy and maintain an SUV he allegedly put to personal use.

You’d think he’d be a target for reform-minded Democrats or Republicans looking to increase their numbers, right?

Wrong. He’s unopposed for re-election.

Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.